A Beverly Hills plastic surgeon is reportedly being investigated for allegedly using fat liposuctioned from his patients to power his and his girlfriend’s 4×4 vehicles.

The Mail Online reports that surgeon Dr Alan Bittern claimed that his patients were happy for their unwanted fat to be put to use as biofuel, which he apparently calls “lipodiesel”.

“The vast majority of my patients request that I use their fat for fuel – and I have more fat than I can use,” he is quoted as saying.

But it is illegal in the United States to use human medical waste to power vehicles and the doctor – who is believed to have moved to South America – is being investigated by the California health department, the report says.